Shell Hospitality Press Blog

Courtesy of CBC.CA

The unrelenting series of storms pounding the West Coast has brought good news for skiers, dumping a record snowfall on at least one coastal ski resort.

On Thursday, the Whistler-Blackcomb resort broke its previous record for all of November when it received 418 centimetres of snow, with 11 days still left to go in the month.

‘We’re only 87 centimetres from reaching the half-way point of our annual average.’—Anton Horvath, Whistler Mountain’s weather forecaster

“This is an unprecedented start to the season,” said Anton Horvath, Whistler Mountain’s weather forecaster, who is expecting another 65 to 95 centimetres over the weekend

The previous record for the entire month was set in 2006 at 416 centimetres, based on snowfall records dating back to 1979.

The annual average snowfall at Whistler-Blackcomb is just over 10 metres, said Horvath.

“The fact that we’re only 87 centimetres from reaching the half-way point of our annual average snowfall shows how incredible the start of this season really is,” said Horvath.

The snow is also good news for organizers of the 2010 Winter Olympics, who are counting on the resort to have enough snow to host the Alpine ski events for the Games in February.

Whistler is not the only ski resort benefiting from the cool, wet storms that have lowered the normal freezing elevation in the mountains by about 700 metres, turning precipitation that might have been rain into snow.

Last weekend, several B.C. ski resorts opened up to two weeks early for the season, including those on the North Shore of Vancouver and others in the Southern Interior.

Rain for lower elevations

But at lower elevations, all the precipitation has been falling as rain, raising river levels and flooding at least one Vancouver Island town earlier this week,

Perhaps surprisingly, the amount of rain falling is only slightly above normal in a few areas.

On the Northern tip of Vancouver Island, Port Hardy has already received more than 300 mm of rain this month, just above the seasonal normal of 284 mm.

Meanwhile, normally rainy Tofino has received only 360 mm of rain, well below the seasonal average of 471 mm for this time in November.

Lowest Prices of the Year at All 23 Premiere, Family Friendly Resorts Over Black Friday Weekend, With “Stocking Stuffer” Early Bird Deals Available Today

PHOENIX, ARIZ. (Nov. 19, 2009)—Shell Vacations Hospitality rings in the holiday season this year with its biggest travel sale of the year. The Black Friday Travel Sale will offer bottom-out prices on 23 family friendly resorts throughout the United States, Mexico and Canada. With deals on getaways for every traveler, shoppers can complete their holiday gift-lists from the comfort of home without ever worrying about a single crowded store. Plus, beginning today, travelers can book Shell Hospitality’s nine exclusive “Stocking Stuffer” deals – “teasers” for the amazing deals to be found after Thanksgiving.

The Black Friday Sale, offering up to 50% off, will begin at midnight the day after Thanksgiving (Nov. 28^th) and end midnight on Cyber Monday, Nov. 30^th. Participating resorts include Napa Valley, Calif.’s Vino Bello Resort, the Peacock Suites in Anaheim, Calif. and Las Vegas’ Desert Rose Resort, among many others.

· Vino Bello Resort—Napa Valley, California Discounts up to 40%, Rates starting at $99/night
Recover from the holiday season with a charming getaway to wine country. Vino Bello’s old world Tuscan charm blends with the surrounding vine-covered hills to welcome you with style and grace.

· Peacock Suites—Anaheim, California Discounts up to 40%, Rates starting at $49/night
What better way to ring in the New Year than a family trip to the “Happiest Place on Earth”? Located within walking distance of Disneyland Park, Peacock Suites is offering magical prices on its spacious, family-friendly accommodations. Enjoy Disneyland’s holiday fireworks show, Nightmare Before Christmas themed Haunted House and the Parade of Lights.

· Desert Rose Resort—Las Vegas, Nevada Discounts up to 30%, Rates starting at $60/night
Viva Las Vegas! Located an easy block off the Las Vegas Strip, Desert Rose Resort provides great access to all the glitz and glam of Las Vegas while maintaining a gambling-free family-friendly atmosphere. Perfect for family vacations and reunions, wedding parties, and group travel, Desert Rose Resort is also perfect for attending sports tournaments, conferences and conventions.

Frugal travelers and savvy shoppers can also whet their appetites now, with Stocking Stuffer deals at select resorts available via the Shell Vacations Hospitality Black Friday, interactive mini-site featuring hints and clues about the upcoming sales and the chance to book the following deals and value-added packages now on a first come first served basis:

· Waikiki Marina Resort at the Ilikai in Oahu, HI- As low as $70 per night (plus tax)

· Legacy Golf Resort in Phoenix, AZ: As low as $37 per night for a Studio; $47 per night for a one bedroom; $69 per night for a two bedroom (plus taxes)

· Desert Rose Resort in Las Vegas, NV: Includes $20 voucher for Pampas Brazilian Grill located at Planet Hollywood: As low as $49 per night for a one bedroom with a three night stay

· Carriage Hills Resort in Ontario, Canada – As low as $55 per night (plus tax)

· Kauai Coast Resort at the Beachboy, HI: As low as $85 per night (plus tax for a studio)

· Inn at the Opera, San Francisco, CA – As low as $45 per night (plus tax)

· Plaza Pelicanos Grand Beach Resort, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico – All inclusive resort from $79 per night (plus tax)

“The holidays are the perfect time for families to getaway or to begin planning and prepping for the year’s vacations,” said Karen Johnson, vice president of sales and marketing for Shell Vacations Hospitality. “Our Black Friday Travel Sale is our most generous offering of the year and, unlike most other sales that day, people don’t have to arrive at a store by 4 a.m. and camp out all night to get the best deals! And with Shell Vacation’s Hospitality’s Stocking Stuffer deals, Christmas really does come early! “

For more information about Shell Hospitality’s Black Friday Travel Sale, and to sign up for the e-newsletter for exclusive updates and amazing deals visit www.ShellHospitality.com/blackfriday.

About Shell Vacations Hospitality:

Shell Vacations Hospitality offers a collection of 26 resorts, hotels and lodges ideal for family vacations, romantic getaways, retreats, reunions and business trips. Visitors may stay at hotels and resorts in popular destinations in the U.S., Mexico and Canada from San Francisco to Whistler. Shell Vacations Hospitality is a subsidiary of Shell Vacations LLC, a premier developer of upscale vacation ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.ShellHospitality.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Stephanie Cedeño
Kat Calbes
BLAZE
Tel: (310) 395-5050
scedeno@blazepr.com
kcalbes@blazepr.com

Phoenix, AZ (Vocus) November 17, 2009 – Shell Vacations Hospitality is proud to announce its first Mexican affiliate resorts at three splendid locations in Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara: Plaza Pelicanos, Guadalajara Plaza Express Lopez Mateos Hotel & Suites and Guadalajara Plaza Expo Hotel & Suites. Considered a relaxing beach town with abundant outdoors activities and scenic beauty, Puerto Vallarta is an ideal destination for a beach getaway in Mexico and Plaza Pelicanos offers easy proximity to the best of the sea as well as top-notch amenities for enjoyable travel. The destination of the other two hotels, Guadalajara, is known for its historic charm that pleasantly co-exists alongside modern marvels in the city. Stroll among 16th century haciendas and towering high-rises. Fine dining, entertainment and shopping can be found close by all three Mexico resorts.

For the rest of the article, click here.